To depict what geographic areas of the county
generate the most sales tax revenue, Platte County
Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight made a request
to see those figures, according to a statement
at last weeks county commission meeting.

Weve been talking so much about sales
tax and where it was going, that I thought it
would be a good idea to know where it came from,
said Knight.

Platte County Treasurer Bonnie Brown prepared
the 2003 taxable sales comparison chart for the
cities within Platte County and the unincorporated
portion of the county.

I wasnt sure what the sales tax figures
would be, Knight said following the meeting.
I thought this kind of information would
help all of us.

The figures, which depict the 2003 sales tax
information, shows that the Kansas City portion
of Platte County brings in over $831.5 million
taxable sales dollars, equating to 69.835% of
the countys total.

Knight said that she doesnt feel as if
all the money needs to be reinvested in Kansas
City, but that its important to understand
where the countys revenue is coming from.

We do need to pay attention where the money
comes from because theres been so much talk
about why we spend money in Kansas City and Barry
Road. I thought those numbers would illustrate
one of the reasons were spending the money,
said Knight. Because thats where the
money is being generatedthats where
people shop, where we get the money to operate
our county, our parks, and thats where moneys
generated to fix everybodys roads.

Riverside is second with $126 million in sales
tax dollars in 2003, or 10.607% of the countys
total.

Parkville and Platte City each brought in over
$60 million. Parkvilles percentage equaled
5.326%, and Platte City equaled 5.125% of the
county's total.

The most surprising figure was that of the unincorporated
portion of the county, with over $65.7 million
in taxable sales dollars, equaling a percentage
greater than either Parkville or Platte City of
5.523%.

I was shocked to see that the sales tax
for the unincorporated portion was higher than
Platte City and even Parkville, said Knight.

The total taxable sales for Platte County for
2003 were $1,190,704,203.57.

Knight stated that the figures for 2004 will
be available in May or June.

In other action, the commission received one
bid for flooring at Shiloh Springs Golf Club from
Wilsons Flooring in the amount of $8,654.98.

Commissioners also awarded a bid to Thoroughbred
Ford for new Ford vehicles and Ford program vehicles
for the sheriffs department.

The commissioners also renewed a health professionals
contract with HPL, who provides health care services
to the inmates for the sheriffs department.
The contract includes a five percent increase
per month for services. The increase, which is
a budgeted item, was anticipated during the middle
of last year.

Commissioners also approved a bid request by
the parks and recreation department for Phase
II improvements to Platte Ridge Park. Projects
included in the bid are for a concession restroom,
concrete sidewalks and pad site, a lateral sanitary
system and lateral field, and seating. Bids are
due by 1:30 p.m., March 24.

Charles Daniel Rhodus II was appointed to the
planning and zoning commission for an unexpired
term effective immediately.